E6: The Game Inside D&D

[yonagi]

It should support them all - my current campaign allows prestige classes as base classes provided the prerequisites can be fulfilled by the 6th level.

 

[Ry]

The short answer is: All of them.

My experience, and this is echoed on most boards, is that D&D is VERY well balanced at 6th level (or in the 6th-8th range). I haven't tested a lot of extraneous classes (although warlocks pop up frequently in my games). So the long answer is: All of them, especially if you have a good selection of feats.

If you want to carefully select classes for a particular game for style or setting reasons (i.e. a low magic campaign with only bards as casters) that works really well too. But you don't need to limit yourself that way for balance reasons. E6 works!

 

[Theine]

I`d just like to know what non-base classes were tested? For example, Healers and Shadowcasters.

Also, will every class need hand-tailored feats?

 

[Ry]

We haven't tested those classes specifically but someone else might chime in. But they were built to balance to other character classes in the 1-6 range, so I highly doubt you would have any problems. The classes don't need hand-tailored feats - in fact, my playtests occured before they were developed. They were created largely in response to concerns that people came up with as E6 became more known-about.

 

[Ry]

I've said this before, and I realized I should say it again now: Class balance around level 6 is very solid - everybody's good in their role but not taking over anyone else's spotlight or making other characters irrelevant. It's easy to get caught trying to exhaust different possibilities with mental experiments but I think the best thing to do is whip up a few characters and get going at the game table.

 

[Theine]

Another question:

Anyone tried to evaluate the end-game character of E6 - level 6 who have all possible feats? How powerful it would be?

 

[Ry]

That's an impossible question, but ... hmm.. since they can take Toughness repeatedly they have an infinite number of hit points, but limited hit dice and theoretically well-limited saves. I'd bet a high-level save-or-die spell would take them out for sure. So I would guess (and this really has nothing to do with actual play of E6) level 15 or so would be the max max max on the infinite curve. But it's a really really weird level 15.

 

[Slife]

Psionic characters might edge out others due to how that psionic feat that increases PP stacks (semi-exponentially).

 

[Theine]

That's an impossible question, but ... hmm.. since they can take Toughness repeatedly they have an infinite number of hit points, but limited hit dice and theoretically well-limited saves. I'd bet a high-level save-or-die spell would take them out for sure. So I would guess (and this really has nothing to do with actual play of E6) level 15 or so would be the max max max on the infinite curve. But it's a really really weird level 15.

Isn`t it a good reason to limit Toughness?

Anyway, let`s not talk about infinity. How long can you play a char in E6 until he`ll start to edge from "realistic" into "superhero'? How many feats?

 

[Ry]

Isn`t it a good reason to limit Toughness? Anyway, let`s not talk about infinity. How long can you play a char in E6 until he`ll start to edge from "realistic" into "superhero'? How many feats?

I've never seen or heard of a game that went long enough to break that limit. I think that over time characters predominantly become more diverse instead of just more powerful, although partially I think that's just the result of the kind of culture around the table that E6 encourages, rather than the rules themselves.

Taking the same feat over and over and aover is really boring, and I think that keeps it from being a real game issue. In my opinion the mental experiments take precious time from getting your game ready and actually sitting down at the table. If I had a crown over the kingdom of E6, it would have "GO PLAY" inscribed on it in Ancient Greek or something. If you run into problems along the way, they will appear gradually and I'd be happy to suggest ways to correct them. E6 works, and it works on timelines that are as long as I've seen or heard of in actual play.